Tool-clamp.



G. W. BECK.

TOOL CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1910.

Patented May 30, 1911.

CHARLES W. BECK, 0F ROCKVILLE CENTER, NEW YORK.

TOOL-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1911.

Application filed May 12, 1910. Serial No. 560,801.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. Been, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rockville Center, county of Nassau, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool- Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple device by-means of which a plurality of tools may be securely held together to form a compact and convenient package for storingin a tool box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple device of the class described by means of which a series of wrenches, or similar tools, may be secured in a compact package convenient for storage in automobile tool boxes, and to so construct the device that the tools may be practically instantaneously released from the clamp, and removed therefrom.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe device showing a series of wrenches held therein; Fig. 2 a detail view of the blanks from which the device is formed; Fig. 3 an end elevation of the clamp open; Fig. 4 a similar view showing the clamp closed a series of wrenches being shown therein in cross sectional view; Fig. 5 a side elevation, the clamping members being arranged as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the various parts by letters a designates a series of wrenches secured within the clamping device. The clamping device consists of two right-angle clamp- -ing members I; and c which are adapted to be brought together to form a rectangular holding socket. These members are hinged together at cl, said hinge forming one corner of the holding socket when the parts are in their closed position. Each member is formed from a blank, such as e and f as shown in Fig. 2. The blank 6 is bent to form the member I) and is formed with the notch or recess 9 in its free edge. The blank f is bent to form the member 0; and the said blank is formed with an extension 71. which is rolled to form the cylindrical part i which is threaded exteriorly to form the clamping screw. The blanks e and f are bent to form the right-angle clamping members and are then hinged together, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. The screw 7' is adapted to be swung into the notch or recess 9 when the members of the clamp are placed about the tools to be held, and a clamping nut is is then threaded on the screw y. This clamping nut bears against the free edge of the clamping member 6 and draws the two members together thereby clamping the tools securely in the holder.

It is manifest that in order to secure the proper clamping action the tools must be laid with their fiat sides parallel With the free portion of the member 6 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4:. By this arran ement of the parts the pressure of the binding nut 71: is transmitted through the free portion of the member 5 directly to the sides of the tools, and gives a very efiicient clamping action.

It is manifest that by means of this construction I provide a very simple efficient and extremely cheap tool holding clamp. By loosening the nut on the threaded extension j any tool desired may be slid longitudinally until its working end is free of the other tools. In this way a tool may be used without entirely removing it from the clamp. If, however, it be desired to release all of the tools from the clamp it is only necessary to give the nut a few turns to release it from the member 6, thereby permitting the clamp to be swung to its open position to free all of the tools.

From the foregoing it is manifest that I provide a very simple and easily operated clamp in which the tools may be very quickly locked, or from which they may be almost instantly released.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool clamp comprising a holding frame formed of members hinged together to form a rectangular holding socket, each of said members forming two sides of the socket, the hinge connecting said members being at one corner of the socket and the free edges of the members meeting at the opposite corner of the socket, and means carried by one of said members and adapted to engage the other member to draw said free edges of the members together.

2. A tool clamp comprising two right angle members hinged together to form a rectangular tool holding socket, and means carried by one of said members and adapted to engage the other member to draw the free edges of said members together to clamp the tools in the socket.

3. A tool holder comprising two rightangular members hinged together at one of their edges to form a rectangular socket, a screw carried by one of said members at its free edge, a nut threaded on said screw and adapted to engage the outer side of the free edge of the other member to draw the said free edges together to clamp the tools within the socket.

A. A tool holder comprising a pair. of right angular members hinged together along one of their longitudinal edges a screw formed integral with one of said members at thefree longitudinal edge thereof, the other member being'formed with a recess in its free longitudinal edge to receive the screw formed on the other member, and a binding nut threaded on said screw and adapted to engage the outer surface of the notched member to clamp the tools within the holder.

5. A tool holder comprising two members hinged together and adapted to open or swing from each other to release the tool and to close or swing toward each other to inclose the tools, and means for drawing together the free longitudinal edges of said members to clamp the tools within the holder.

6. A combination tool comprising a series of blades with flat sides adapted to slide longitudinally upon each other and means for clamping them together including an encircling yoke hinged on one side of the series and the free ends of which are secured by a thumb nut.

7 A combination tool comprising a series of blades with fiat sides adapted to slide longitudinally upon each other and means for clamping them together including an encirthe combination with a series of tools having I substantially parallel edges of an encircling yoke adapted to embrace the series to clamp the tools together and comprising two members hinged together at one side of the series and held together by a thumb nut and screw at the opposite side of the series.

10. In a device of the character described the combination with a series of tools having substantially parallel edges of an encircling yoke adapted to embrace the series to clamp the tools together and comprising two members each adapted to contact with the outer surface of one of the tools and bent to inclose its edges, and hinged together on one side of the series and locked together on the opposite side of the series.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses this 7th day of May 1910.

CHARLES W. BECK.

Witnesses WM. R. DAvis, F. R. MILLER.

Copies, of this patent may be obtained-for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

. Washington, D. G. 

